In Brief
This landmark judgment addresses whether India's Supreme Court should live-stream its proceedings to enhance public access to justice. The Court held that live-streaming is manifestly in the public interest as an extension of the open justice principle, provided it is subject to carefully structured guidelines. The Court permitted live-streaming with a two-minute delay, excluding matrimonial cases, sexual assault matters, and cases involving juveniles. The presiding judge retains discretion to suspend broadcasting if justice requires. The judgment mandates implementation of a pilot project initially for constitutional importance cases before progressive expansion, noting that technology overcomes logistical barriers to justice access while preserving court dignity and protecting litigant privacy.
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